New One Stop Shop and combined library in Midsomer Norton could save £200,000 for council.

Bath and North East Somerset Council hopes to combine the town’s library and One Stop Shop.

The new plans would bring together both services and see them open inside The Hollies.

B&NES will be working with Midsomer Norton Town Council and local community to identify the best use of the building vacated by the library to support the local economy and the wider community aspirations for the town centre and High Street.

What will the move mean?

A larger floor space in the library due to moving into the Hollies

A refurbishment in the library

New technology inside the library

Why move into the same building?

Councillor Martin Veal (Conservative, Bathavon North) cabinet member for community services, said: “This is an exciting opportunity for us to combine and enhance our services and encourage more people through the door.

“We think libraries are really important as places where everyone in the community can access support, knowledge, culture and events to help them reach their full potential which is why we are investing about a third of a million pounds in these improvements.

He added: “At a time when all Councils are having to make savings, integrating these two services in Midsomer Norton will ensure that our Library and One Stop Shop service has a sustainable, long-term future – helping to deliver over £200,000 in efficiency savings every year towards our budget pressures of over £37m whilst protecting all the services valued by local people. This is alongside opening up new opportunities to attract investment into the town centre.”

The plans for integrating Midsomer Norton Library and One Stop Shop are part of the Council’s Modern Libraries Programme.